India is one of the first countries to select this new aircraft and had ordered eight P-8Is in January 2009 for Rs 11,524 crore.

The first of the eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing P-8I was delivered to the Indian Navy in the US. The Navy will fly three of these to India next year.

The delivery of P-8Is, the most sophisticated aircraft to be inducted into the Navy to date, has been on time unlike the other systems India is procuring from overseas including the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been delayed by several years.

India, one of the first countries to select this new aircraft, had ordered eight P-8Is in January 2009 for $ 2.1 billion (Rs 11,524 crore). The delivery schedule has been maintained as the induction will take place in the stipulated time of 2013.

The P-8I s are based on Boeing's Next General 737-800 commercial airliner which has been modified for the maritime surveillance role.

The Navy, at the moment, has Tu-142 long-range maritime surveillance aircraft of the Soviet-era vintage. Flying these aircraft is no more feasible as technology has moved ahead several generations.

Based in TN

The P-8I s will be based at INS Rajali, the naval airbase in Tamil Nadu. The location has been chosen keeping in mind the role of the aircraft.

It can be easily deployed from INS Rajali to all directions in the Indian Ocean without having the need to fly over land. The aircraft was first flown in July after which extensive trials were carried out in Boeing's facility at Seattle. It was flown at its maximum permissible altitude of 41,000 feet as other airborne systems were validated.

The aircraft was also tested at US Navy's range at Neah Bay and in the Strait of Georgia. The training of Indian pilots and other staff has also begun on handling the aircraft. The navy said it will bring three aircraft together to India next year even though the first one has been delivered.

More needed

India will need at least 30 aircraft in the coming years and there is a likelihood of ordering more of these aircraft.

Commercial negotiations for buying four more P-8I s are already underway.

Considering India's vast area of maritime influence, it will need a strong long-range naval aviation arm. At the moment, navy has Tu-142 and IL-38 s, which were upgraded recently. The P8I s will bring a generational shift in surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capability, officials said.

Naval pilots will fly the aircraft for some months in the US. The P-8I will have a mid air refuelling capability that would provide it longer legs and provide room for extended missions.